Rio 2016: Chris Eubank Jr fails in bid to compete at Olympic Games

Eubank has seen his hopes of Olympic glory dashed by GB Boxing.Getty Images

Chris Eubank Jr has failed in his attempt to represent Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after having his application blocked by the British Amateur Boxing Association. The 26-year-old had hoped to take advantage of a ruling by the Amateur International Boxing Association which allows professionals to enter the Olympic competition.

Each competing nation is only allowed one fighter in each weight class and with world championship bronze medallist Antony Fowler having already qualified for the middleweight category, there is no room for Eubank to travel with the team. The Hove-born fighter is back in action on 25 June and would have to had prevailed in a qualifying tournament in Venezuela in early July to earn a place.

"We can confirm that we have had enquiries from people claiming to represent Chris Eubank Jr," a statement from BABA said. "We explained that the qualification process for Rio 2016 has been going on for several months and that Great Britain has already qualified a boxer in the middleweight (75kg) category, Antony Fowler, and that he will represent Team GB in that weight class at the Olympic Games this summer."

Eubank takes on Tom Doran in his next professional bout later in the month, having defeated Nick Blackwell for the British middleweight title in March – a fight which left Blackwell in an induced coma and fighting for his life. There is yet no indication whether Eubank's application for an Olympic place affects the bout.

GB Boxing will only consider professional fighters for Rio after the completion of the penultimate Olympic qualifying event in Baku on 14-26 June. Great Britain have already filled 10 of the 13 slots in the men's and women's competitions for the Games.